Tuesday night was an emotional one for fans of Mama Lee’s Soul Food and makeover shows. As Robert Irvine, of “Kitchen Impossible” fame set out to help Ken Lee keep his restaurant, the show definitely brought the waterworks.

As Lee explained at the start of the show, Mama Lee’s was failing. Lee was behind on countless bills and was about 90 days from closing the restaurant’s doors. That’s where Irvine, HGTV’s the “Kitchen Cousins” and designer Taniya Nayak came into the picture.

Named after Ken’s mother, Alma Lee, Mama Lee’s dished up what Irvine considered less-than-awesome comfort food. Irvine sampled the mac-and-cheese, smothered pork chop and a bowl of gumbo, which he likened to a bowl of salt, even pouring out a salt shaker onto a table to further emphasize his point. Irvine’s sentiments were reflected with obligatory shots of wary customers who bemoaned bland waffles and suspicious steamed okra.

The real fun started when Irvine stepped foot in Mama Lee’s old kitchen and found broken appliance after broken appliance, disgustingly clogged sinks, greasy stoves and last, but certainly not least, a smattering of mouse/rat droppings.

At barely 15 minutes in, the show took a decidedly emotional turn when Lee’s nephew and head cook Robert Daniels, voiced his remorse in helping his uncle’s business fail. Ultimately, Daniels felt Lee wasn’t a strong enough leader. A teary Lee promised to make the restaurant succeed, because after all, his mother’s name was on it.

What followed was a complete overhaul of Mama Lee’s kitchen (after having an exterminator eradicate a cockroach infestation) and dining room. The front of the house was given an industrial chic edge with warm orange colors, simple woven vinyl carpets, and dark wood/concrete walls. The makeover also included a trip to Ace Mart Restaurant Supply where Irvine bartered Lee’s service in the military for pots, pans and other kitchen essentials.

The renovations took a few hours longer to complete, but about 200 people were clustered outside the restaurant waiting for a glimpse. Most patrons seemed to enjoy the changes to the decor and the menu.

Sounds off: Were you a fan of Mama Lee’s before the makeover? What changes did you like? What changes did you not like?